Figure 3

Development of a new PVR model using C-PVR cells. (a) Schematic representation of experimental design. Created with BioRender.com. (b) Representative images of PVR-like findings. Right eye of the same animal of study is displayed. After 1 week of follow up, vitreous floaters due to cell proliferation are easily identified with no changes in fundus (arrowheads). At 2 weeks, large intravitreal membranes and floaters within the vitreous body are noted (arrowheads). In the fundus image, epiretinal membrane (ERM) is identified (arrowheads). Also, reduced visualization of posterior pole due to vitreous haze is noted. However, at 4 weeks, cell proliferation has decreased, and the size of intravitreal membranes and ERMs is reduced (arrowheads). (c) Immediately after cell injection, funduscopy shows a cluster of cells that can be readily identified in the vicinity of the optic nerve (arrowheads) and cells are visible over optic nerve area by OCT (arrows). After 2 weeks, injected cells have proliferated and formed an ERM (arrowheads). By OCT a thick ERM (arrowheads) causing focal traction over retinal surface can be seen (arrows). After 4 weeks, membranes and vitreous strands are still visible (arrowheads), but show decreased traction of retinal surface (arrows). (asterisk: optic nerve head, green line depicts OCT scan area). (d) PVR Score results at 2 and 4 weeks of follow-up. Data suggest lack of progression from the second to the fourth week of the evaluation. Line is expressing the median of each studied group. (e) Histologic characterization of C-PVR injected eyes 4 weeks after cell injection. Presence of ERM can be observed over retinal surface area (arrowheads). (H&E, Scale bar: 400 μm). Dotted lines: detailed area of ERM causing retinal focal traction. (H&E, Scale bar: 100 μm). Anti-HLA antibody was used to confirm presence of human cells inside injected rabbit eyes (arrows). (Scale bar: 400 μm). (f) ERMs could be identified over the area of the optic nerve and medullary ray (Scale bar: 400 μm). Magnified areas signifying locations where ERMs were seen (arrows) (Scale bar: 100 μm). PCNA positive cells are observed within the ERMs formed (Scale bar: 100 μm).